Column assembly



July 12, 1938. A .1. l. ADLER COLUMN ASSEMBLY Filed May 21, 1958 figure 2 v I INVENTOR. M0 W Patented July 12, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE COLUMN ASSEMBLY Joseph I. Adler, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 21, 1938, Serial No. 209,303

4 Claims.

This invention relates to assemblies of artificial structural columns such as are used for display and other purposes, for instance, window displays, displays on parade floats, or the like.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a column assembly made up of a few simple light weight parts which can be easily and quickly put together or taken apart, and which when assembled is of sufficient rigidity to assure stability of the assembly. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an assembly wherein the lower end of the column is held in place in a simple and reliable manner so that it will neither bend nor buckle, and so 15 that there is substantially no danger of the collapse or bending of the lower end of the colunm, where the stress naturally is greatest. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a column assembly of the above men- 20 tioned character wherein all of the component parts may be made of cardboard or other paper, or of other molded pulp material, the parts being hollow so that the construction may be light of weight.

25 The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

30 In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a column assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the column of Figure 1.,

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the column assembly comprises a base I, a hollow shaft 2 and a top 3 superimposed one above the other in the order named. The base I is of a box-like square shape, and includes four sides, a bottom 4, and a top 5. The top 5 is provided with a centrally located circular opening 6 through which the column 2 extends. An ornamental collar 1, consisting of two rings 8 and 9 secured together one around the other, is slipped over the lower end of the shaft 2, making a comparatively snug fit therewith, and rests on the top 5 of the base I. A short cylindrical drum l0, closed at both the top and bottom, is inserted through the hole 6 in the base I and rests upon the bottom of the base. This drum is of a height slightly in excess of the height of the base I, and of an external diameter such that the hollow shaft 2 may fit thereover snugly. The collar 1 is 55 slipped over the lower end of the shaft 2, and the shaft is then slipped through the hole 6 in the top 5 of the base, so that the shaft passes around the drum). The shaft 2 may comprise a preformed tube, or may comprise a sheet of flat or corrugated cardboard or other stiff paper, rolled 13 to form a tube or cylinder of the desired diameter, and with the longitudinal edges of the rolled sheet overlapping, as indicated at l2. The drum I0 holds the lower end of the tube to its proper diameter, that is, against collapsing. The collar 1 is then moved downwardly upon the shaft until it rests upon the top 5 of the base I, thereby concealing the edge of the hole 6 in engagement with the shaft 2. The shaft 2 rests upon the bottom of the base I and is supported against side 15 movement by the top 5, since the shaft snugly engages the periphery of the hole 6. The collar 1 is for ornamental effect. The drum ill helps to impart rigidity to the lower end of the shaft 2. I

The top 3 is then placed over the open top of the shaft 2. The top 3 consists of a hollow square box or tray to the lower side of the base 15 of which is rigidly secured a shortcylindrical collar l6 which may be part of a cylindrical inverted box including a top H, the top ll being pasted or otherwise permanently secured to the lower side of the base IS. The collar I6 fits snugly around the top of the shaft 2.

The entire column assembly may be made of cardboard or pasteboard, each of the parts of the assembly being a separate unit so that the parts may be quickly assembled or disassembled.

If desired the parts constituting the assembly may be made of molded paper or other molded pulp products. The outside or exposed portions of the assembly are preferably made with an ornamental appearance, either of pure glossy white or cream color, or may be made to simulate a marble effect, or may have any other ornamental design thereon either to simulate a structural column or to produce any other pleasing effect. The base I, shaft 2, top 3, and collar l are each separate units, each of which may be covered on the outside by a sheet of white glazed or other paper, or otherwise ornamented. If desired the sheet constituting the shaft 2 may be corrugated to form ornamental vertical ribs on the outside to simulate other standard types of columns.

Due to the snug fit of the parts at the base of the column there is suflicient rigidity at the base to prevent bending of the shaft 2 or inadvertent separation of the shaft from the base. In addition the drum l0 reenforces the bottom of the shaft and prevents collapse of one side of the shaft as a force is applied to the shaft tending to tilt the same. The shaft 2 may be made of any desired length and may be shortened at any time, yet fit the base I and the top 3.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have here shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction here shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. What I consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An assembly simulating a structural column comprising a hollow base having a hole in the upper side thereof, a tubular hollow shaft extending into said hole and fitting snugly therein, a drum in said base, said shaft making a snug sliding fit around said drum, and a collar having sliding engagement with the shaft at the top of the base and concealing the edge of the hole.

2. An assembly simulating a structural column comprising a hollow base having a hole in the upper side thereof, a tubular hollow shaft extending into said hole and fitting snugly therein, a

drum in said base, said shaft making a snug sliding fit around said drum, a collar having sliding engagement with the shaft at the top of thebase and concealing the edge of the hole, and a top resting on top of the shaft and overhanging the same and including a depending collar fitting snugly over the top of the shaft.

3. An assembly simulating a structural column comprising a hollow base having a hole in the upper side thereof, a tubular hollow shaft extending into said hole and fitting snugly therein, a drum in said base, said shaft making a snug sliding fit around said drum, a collar having sliding engagement with the shaft at the top of the base and concealing the edge of the hole, and a top resting on top of the shaft and overhanging the same and including a depending collar fitting snugly over the top of the shaft, said top, shaft, drum and base comprising separable units having sliding engagement with one another and each being of a stiff paper material.

'4. An assembly simulating a structural column comprising a base, a shaft and a top, the shaft comprising a sheet of stiff paper material rolled into' tubular form with the longitudinal edges overlapping and separate from one another, the top and the base each fitting snugly over opposite ends of the shaft, and a drum snugly embraced by the shaft at one end thereof and holding that end, against distortion radially inwardly, said base, shaft, and top being held in slidable engagement and separable by longitudinal movement.

JOSEPH I. ADLER. 

